Minors beat and kill 63 year old in Placencia
Roy “Chief” Waight
A group of minors, some of whom are students, is in police custody tonight following the death of a sixty-three year old Belize City resident employed as a marine and industrial engineer in Placencia. Roy “Chief” Waight was brutally beaten at his work site at the Sustainable Tourism Project last Saturday. He was transferred to the K.H.M.H. where he died within four days of the beating due to trauma to the abdomen and back. The minors have allegedly been wreaking havoc in the peninsula. Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Eight school-aged students from Placencia—some enrolled at the Independence High School—are tonight detained at the Intermediate Southern Formation in Independence. It is alleged that the minors beat and robbed an elderly man sometime between nine-thirty and ten on Saturday night.
Via Phone: Charles Leslie Jr., Chairman, Placencia
Charles Leslie Jr.
“He was out drinking in the area of the dock; the construction dock and about seven to eight school children attacked him and beat him up. He was taken to Belize City for medical attention and yesterday I believe he succumbed to his injuries. From the information that I have, there were at least three witnesses to this incident. It happened in an area where people are always in that area so fortunately the crime was witnessed. These people were called into the Placencia sub-formation and they were questioned, the culprits, the suspects were identified and the police have detained I believe seven or eight of these suspects now.”
But on Wednesday, things turned for the worse as the man, sixty-three year old Roy Waight, affectionately known as “Chief”, died while receiving treatment at the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital for the injuries he sustained.
Via Phone: Charles Leslie Jr.
“It was certified that his liver and lung malfunctioned which basically resulted in his death.”
Duane Moody
“The malfunctioning of his liver and lung was it due to the attack?”
Via Phone: Charles Leslie Jr.
“Yes. It is assumed that this was indeed due to the attack that he received on October twentieth by the seven to eight school children.”
According to co-worker and friend, Lindsay Garbutt, he left Waight in good health on Saturday and later found out what had happened. Garbutt says that the loss is tremendous to him and his business.
Lindsay Garbutt
Lindsay Garbutt, Friend of Deceased
“Roy was more a colleague for me than a worker for me. I’ve known Roy for many years. He travelled the world and when he came back and was at B.E.L. as a supervisor and he managed many resorts in this country. He has a vast knowledge of mechanic/electrical. He was with me in Placencia not for the money, but because he was assisting me with the barge—welding if I need a welder down there. He would normally do more work than the workman them. I leave him in Placencia around the twentieth or so. He told me he was going to a football game that was down there. And from what I learn from when I get back, because I found him sick and he was never a sick man. Reliable sources, I don’t want to talk much about that because it is in the police hands, but they had robbed him and probably gave him some good bruises and he came back home sick and within a week he passed away. I told my wife I give up the business. I can’t handle thins anymore. I lose a friend. So that’s what I have to say about “Chief”, who I referred to. When something come up and my wife would ask, does “Chief” knows about it? You contact chief; you ask “Chief” how to go about it. She done know that what “Chief” says goes. I don’t argue with him.”
Chairman at the Peninsula, Charles Leslie Junior, says that although some of the detainees are his close relatives, he condemns their actions. Leslie says that for some time now, the group of boys has been going around the village attacking people.
Via Phone: Charles Leslie Jr.
“It’s eight suspects that have been held so far for questioning. Indeed I as the chairman have been aware for about a month now that there were indeed some high school children—from within the area—going around attacking certain people; especially people who are out drinking and drunk or you know someone who might be of lower social status, someone who is homeless or something to that. These kids were taking advantage of these people because most of the time these people were intoxicated and which seems to have been the situation with this particular gentleman. I do not condone this in any sense of the word. With that said, we working with the police. The police have been doing the best they could to mitigate this situation with the parents. But unfortunately this incident took place on October twentieth and unfortunately this gentle man died from his injuries.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
Last week, a group of minors were charged for manslaughter in the death of Emerito Itza, a Succotz resident, who was badly beaten in San Pedro and subsequently succumbed to the injuries.
Another example of the urgency in changing our laws about juvenile gangsters. If they kill or use weapons, then they should be tried and sentenced as adults.
Will no member of the Assembly sit up and address this problem? We cannot hope for the Minister of National Security to do so. I have a hunch he died some months back, for all of the leadership he has displayed in securing the nation.
Another troubling observation: the village chairman has been “aware” of this gang of robbers “for about a month,” to use his own words. He really has admitted he has been derelict in his duties. If he was aware of them, why did he allow them to rampage for a month? Apparently it was OK for them to terrorize the least and most vulnerable in town, but those people are humans, too, who deserve the protection of the government. I think Chairman Leslie should look himself square in the mirror and ask himself whether he should resign, so the community can be led by someone who cares about ALL the people.
Anyway, these animals should never see freedom if they are found guilty.
They need to be hung by the neck until dead even picni now the kill people because they know heir is no law in Belize well people we need to take matters in our own hands and start hanging these murderers ourselves because this gov. Is a waste of time useless hang all murderers hang them high .
The fact that these students have been attacking people for a month with no notification to the community is a failure of the Placencia Village Council (PVC). PVC often espouses the belief that the community must work together for the betterment of all but if facts like this are hidden from the community it can not help with a solution such as keeping a better eye on these students by everyone in the village.
The end result of this secrecy and tendency to keep things hidden was unfortunately the tragic death of this man. Anyone who knew of these actions over the past month and did nothing to stop this group of students from continuing to act in this manner is culpable at some level.
I have known Mr. Roy Waite and his family for years. May God be with his family as they mourn his passing and try to piece life back together. Judgement is mine said the Lord..
@ Rod…so i guess that some of the bad people form San Pedro have gone to Placencia Right?????
I live in Placencia and I must say…. The response from “Storm” says it all!!!!
village council is protecting der own piicni!
I hear it is still under investigation and not all of the minors in the are where assumed to be involoved. I also heard that there were a few drunking men taunting the minors and the police arrived, took there names and ran the minors off and followed then away. Other adults were left behind with the man. I think all should wait (especially the Chairman of Placencia) before anyone “condems” the youths in public. I think the Chairman should resign especially if he knew of problems in the area and did not inform the community as this is “his” responsibility. He should have mentioned this “especially in the last village council meeting, which I hear was just a few days ago. “HE SHOULD ALSO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RESIGN”!
I think the Chairman has jumped the gun! I hear the situation is still under investigation by the police and knowone has been charged so far. How could he condem the youths without proper info and conclusion? I hear that 3 police arrived because of a call of drunking men taunting youths in the area. The police arrived took the youths names/schools and ran off the youths and followed them. A few other drunking men where left behind with the man who died. On another note, if the Chairman knew of any problems with youths in the area, he should have informed the public in his last public meeting held just a few days ago. He should also take responsibility and resign. Obviously he is not on top of the situation in his village. HE SHOULD RESIGN!!
That is how a gang starts, if any other of the existing gangs would have been cleared. Belize would have been free and safe
I agree with Steve. The Chairman should resign, especially if he knew of the problems. He should have said somethiing at their most recent village council public meeting a few night ago.
I’m from Placencia and this was bound to happen because in Placencia both children and adults have no boundaries and can’t tell right from wrong. I was at a football game once and saw the very young children harassing the village drunk at a football game; tripping him so that he falls down each time he got up. I observed that ALL the adults stood by laughing as it was happening. I finally said to someone, is anybody going to do something about this and he finally intervened to stop it. The adults and their cruelty to the animals is appalling enough and the children follow suit. A bunch of little Jeffrey Dahmers in the making. I’ve read on some FB threads the parents condoning their children actions of throwing stones at crane operators because they were bulldozing mango trees and they didn’t like it. I’m not surprise this has happened and it’s going to get worse because the children, and the adults, are out of control. As for the Placencia Village Council and their leaders truer words could not be said. Everything is done in “secret”, there’s no transparency; it’s like an arrogant, controlling dictator is running the show. This information should absolutely have been made public so that people are aware of what’s going on in their village. Complete failure of leadership! This is just the tip of the iceberg; I’m sure there’s more to come because that whole village is out of control!
I live in placencia and i can agree with Consie. The parents have no control over these kids. They let them do what they want and let them go where ever they want and dont know what they are doing. You can even find high school children in the bars and club dancing like they were strippers and drinking and the bar/ club owners dont say anything they just stay there and watch, laugh n critisize. As for the chairman he should be replaced. he n his wife walk around placencia like if they own the place. they are out drinking all the time and see these things happening and dont say a word and scamming people in the village!
Charles Leslie is a disgrace to my village he need to resign or get voted out. he doesnt care about our village he just want to con more people to get tarpoon caye lodge up and running.
From the comments of the people who live in Placencia, it sounds like Chairman Leslie has Mr. Waight’s blood on his hands. Had he done his job, the thugs would not have been allowed to escalate their bad behavior to murder.
The buck stops with the Chairman.
Little harsh on the chairman, I think he tries but have a lot of learning to do. Also is he really incharge down there?
i dont think the kids did nothing so we shoud not hung them
Am not to judge but i dont think the kids did not do it so we shoud not hung them just make we wait and listen to di two part of the story cuase it sounds like its only one part to the story……
Vista..you are out of your mind!
A curfew should have been requested at month ago if it is fact that the chairman was aware of these problems with these youths in the our community..and then an emergency meeting with villagers/parents to bring this to light. Dont know if it would have really helped, but at least the chairman would have done his part and would not be getting the blame of exactly what’s is happening right now. I totally agree with Consie, the village/villagers are all out of control. TIME FOR A RE-SET or there will be many more head scratching and stressful times in the near future. I am sorry for the children in Placencia, they are not to be blamed for doing half the wrong things that they do. Because there is so little positive shown by adults. I think that alcohol should not be served in social functions that involves children such as the popular soccer games…beside drunk parents, the shouting of obscene language, the wild behavior…etc. Children look to their parents for guidance and this is all the see all day long..at home, at parties, everywhere. The music these poor kids listens and dances to are so unfair for these undeveloped mines.
Placencia is Sodom & Gomorrah..go to a bar, parents and kids getting intoxicated together. Nasty discussions and jokes, cousins & cousins having affairs..wow!!!! And it’s all ONE BIG PARTY FOR ALL!!!
A curfew should have been requested at month ago if it is fact that the chairman was aware of these problems with these youths in the our community..and then an emergency meeting with villagers/parents to bring this to light. Dont know if it would have really helped, but at least the chairman would have done his part and would not be getting the blame of exactly what’s is happening right now. I totally agree with Consie, the village/villagers are all out of control. TIME FOR A RE-SET or there will be many more head scratching and stressful times in the near future. I am sorry for the children in Placencia, they are not to be blamed for doing half the wrong things that they do. Because there is so little positive shown by adults. I think that alcohol should not be served in social functions that involves children such as the popular soccer games…beside drunk parents, the shouting of obscene language, the wild behavior…etc. Children look to their parents for guidance and this is all the see all day long..at home, at parties, everywhere. The music these poor kids listens and dances to are so unfair for these undeveloped mines.
Placencia is Sodom & Gomorrah..go to a bar, parents and kids getting intoxicated together. Nasty discussions and jokes, cousins & cousins having affairs..never seen or heard of so may lesbian/gay relationships…wow!!!! And it’s all ONE BIG PARTY FOR ALL!!! I am sure the elders of this once sleepy community that are still with us and who has passed on are turning in their graves.
Bottom line.. DON’T blame the Chairman for your neglectfulness. Don’t have children if you cannot direct them in the right path. You Parents are totally RESPONSIBLE!!!
One week ago Emerson (footy) was sleeping in a building under construction (footy is homeless) and was attacked by a group of boys that were stoning him and verbally taunting him. He known all the boys in the group, he lived with one of the boys family for sometime. After many warning footy lost his cool and throw his pocke knife at the group hitting and wounding one of the boys. The perent of the boy that had a small cut reported it to the police, Footy is now in jail and the boys got away with the blessing of there perents and send back out to repeat roming our streets to pray on the next victim. I spoke with two pearents of two of the boys a few days before and was shock when told that they had no control over they sons. We as community is loosing our youth to the street, we don’t have any activety to motivate or train our youths. Boys Scouts come to mine.
This whole fiasco, and the responses by some citizen’s makes no sense whatsoever, since by the tone of the responses it suggest that the Chairman of the Village of Placencia, (which I am assuming is like a Mayor) who is elected to serve as a spokesman for the people in general issues, was certainly NOT voted in to assume the role of parents, nor of the police, and certainly not to be everywhere at the same time and inform the public of the obvious.
As I hear it, this pack of kids, mind you ~kids~, have been carrying on like this for years, attacking and killing cats for fun with pit bulls, confronting and attacking adults showing no regards whatsoever for the rule of law or showing any respect for people of authority. Such aggressive behavior could only escalate to more dangerous levels, it is only a matter of time. And no one else saw this coming?
These kids where out roaming the village at 10:30 at night (!!) and ~robbed~ the man of his money, and if these are indeed the facts, they exhibited a criminal mind collectively and a predatory instinct and intent. Some I hear, have been in trouble with the law before, some in matters concerning drugs. I also heard some people (parents) say they stopped their kids from hanging around this ‘gang’ in the past, suspecting nothing good could possibly come out of it. So some parents were well aware of these predators, not too hard to be in a tiny village.
I am not quite clear what exactly is the role of the ‘Chairman’ of a village like Placencia, so will reserve judgement on that. If he was to resign, because now many people need a scapegoat, what exactly do these people want the next chairman to be? A leader, because they need to be lead? A parent and responsible for their kids, because they lost control over them? Someone to think for them, because they can’t? Cut right to the chase and they might as well appoint a dictator, because they can’t handle the responsibility of running their own affairs, starting with being a responsible parent.
Something good may come out of this, i.e. a reminder that a Youth Center is badly needed in Placencia for these bored kids to have something to do. This has been tried before, and given the typical petty, jealous, suspicious and NON-cooperative nature of many of the people of Placencia could never get off the ground, regardless how well intentioned it was.
You got some problems people of Placencia, and it is up to you, everyone of you to be truthful enough and cooperative enough to solve them – together. The first step is admittance of the problems, the second is not to look for a scapegoat so you don’t have to address the solution.
Good luck.
Everyone need to get the truth and facts before accusing these youths “Innocent until proven guilty”
Get your facts straight before condemning others.
Is this the same Chairman who got 25 Votes from Placencia when he ran for Area Rep in the most recent General Elections? Man, can’t he see the writing on the wall. Maybe he just likes to be on camara!
Why is it that all comments on here seems to be frah gringos who come ya coh live. our village and country did not get screwed in the head until you white devils come to my country with your first world mentality which is all about money money money and exploiting everting. Where are the most serial killers located? in all a dem village bout dis country gringos seem like deh entitled to and have exclusivity to know about everything and if deh no know dehn conspiracy di happen. Maybe the local piple tired of unu inna dehm bizniz, every think a dat?
@sunbather I would like to hang you along with the useless youths of Placencia and all trouble makers from other parts of the Country…People are not stupid and they cannot reasonable accuse a youth that was never at the crime scene…if you’re at the crime scene and you didn’t/wouldn’t come forward and tell the police what you saw then you are condoning the offense and should be equally charged with MURDER and should be HANG!!!!!
@XXXXX The reason our society the way it is today is exactly because of people liek sunbather. They keep condoning these brutal behaviour and then when its time for them to face to music fot their actions they defend them to the bitter end. Mr. Waite was a Family man and a very good engineer. Not becuase he was out drinking give these kids the right to think that they could have jumped him and causing him to loose his life. He was a great lost to ths country as no other Belizean was certified in his field. But they may walk away free for now but God does not sleep and he certainly does not acknowledge ugly behaviour…. They have their punishment yet to come to them
i am at a complete loss as to why there has been zero follow up in the news regarding this situation.. is it true that this was buried and all the children who murdered this man were set free?
NOTHING SAID OR DONE CAN BRING BACK MY DAD.
YOU GUYS WILL NEVER IMAGINE WHAT YOU TOOK FROM MY FAMILY AND I
NOTHING SAID OR DONE CAN BRING BACK MY DAD.
YOU GUYS WILL NEVER IMAGINE WHAT YOU TOOK FROM MY FAMILY AND I
AMEN TO THAT “THATS RIGHT”
MY FATHER WAS THE BEST THERE WAS AND THE BEST THERE EVER WILL BE.
EVER FAT FOWL HAVE DE SUNDAY.
The man named in this article is my father – Roy Waite Sr. – a marine and industrial engineer – perhaps Belize’s best. His death is not only a lost to us his family but also to the country of Belize
NEVER THOUGHT ID HAD TO BURRY MY FATHERON ACCORD OF CRIME. My father had never hurt a soul. He wasn’t involved in crime or affiliated with crime or any illegal activity for that matter. He had a wonderful and loving family. He wasn’t no dead beat pa. HE WAS A FATHER …………. A HUSBAND. He never deserved such a death………………………………………….
Innocent till proven guilty!!! HOG WASH. WHAT MORE EVIDENCE IS NEEDED……………. How in the name of creation can it be said these youths were condemned. Actions have consequences. It don’t take a fool to know this.
D NECESSARY AUTHORITIES NUH C IT FIT FI LOCK UP 8 PICKNI WEH BEAT & KILL MI PA & MEK DE FACE DE CONSEQUENCE. DE DAMN PICKNI DONE DE BACK INNA SCHOOL TOO. THE SCHOOLS TOO. CHILDREN GET EXPELLED FOR FIGHTING BUT MURDER NO? BUT Y? What kind of example is this setting for the remaining student poplulation.
THEY GET OFF YET A YOUNG GIRL GETS JAIL TIME 4 SELLING WEED AND A MAN GETS UP TO 5 YRS FOR STEALING BREAD. WHERE’S THE JUSTICE INDEED
BUT MEK I HOLD 1 A DEM N PULL BUT A GRAIN A HAIR FR DEM ROTTEN NO GOOD HEAD, D STUPID POLICE DE WA COME LOCK ME UP QUICK N
C TO IT A GO DAH JAIL TOO. N PLACENCIA BEING A TOURIST ZONE, HOW STUPID CAN THEIR VILLAGE COUNCIL BE TO NOT PUT A FOOT ON THESE DAMN BOYS. MY FATHER WASN’T THE FIRST AND ONLY ATTACK THEY’VE DONE. PERHAPS THE 1ST FATALITY SO FAR. WHAT DE A WAIT FOR? MEK DE KILL D WHOLE DAMN PENONSULA OF THE MAP? And you know what’s even more depressing? My father has done and contributed so much to the development of this industry through training administered and in managing several resorts across the length and breadth of this country
Yes the chairman aren’t their parents or the police, but as chairman he has a duty, a responsibility to the people and area he represents. whether elected or appointed, he has been selected to serve. He was FULLY arrear of the crime situation in Placencia in particular with these young boys. Therefore, it was/is his duty, his responsibility to get the help necessary. It doesn’t mean he ought to do it himself. so case close. THE CHAIRMAN IN MY OPINION IS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE. HE FAILED!!!!!!!
AND Y ARE THEY GIVING THE DEVIL SO MUCH POWER? 8 BOYS BEATING ON AN INNOCNET SOUL. COME ON IT DOESN’T TAKE A FOOL TO KNOW THIS. THAT’S NOTHING BUT SATANIZM. AND THEIR PARENTS? INSTEAD OF CHASING THE WORLD & TRYING TO GAIN MATERIAL WEALTH, GET PAN UNU N DAMN KNEES & PRAY FI UNU PICKNI. THEY NEED DELIVERANCE. BUT WAIT ………. UNU DAY WAH COME ………….. THE SAME COUTLESS TEARS And pain my family and I shed our father and still, you will shed far more ANYHOW UNU PICKNI NUH TRY REPENT AND GET PAN TEAM JESUS!!!!
They really dont understand my God when He said in his words TOUCH NOT MY ANNOINTED.
IM SO ANGRY I COULD SPIT NAILS ………..
THEY GET OFF YET A YOUNG GIRL GETS JAIL TIME 4 SELLING WEED AND A MAN GETS UP TO 5 YRS FOR STEALING BREAD. WHERE’S THE JUSTICE INDEED
To Lindsay: YOU WERE NEVER AND WILL NEVER BE MY FATHER’S BOSS. And why the tears? You’re a very bold man and lieing on public media. Lol! you’re serious…….Why didn’t you tell the reporter “I don’t want to talk much about that because it is in the police hands, but they had robbed him and probably gave him some good bruises and he came back home sick and within a week he passed away”. Probably????????????? This is more a statement of surity than uncertainty. All I have to say to you is may the good Lord bless and keep you; may he have mercy on your soul……………and you are FULLY aware as to why I express myself as such………………..and please PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY. FAR, FAR AWAY. YOU HAVE CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE
Concluding, they may get away in an earthly court or not, but one thing is a guarantee – they will still be answerable to highest court in existence’; that is THAT OF THE RIGHT HAND JUDGEMENT OF GOD
I PRAY GOD MAKES US SEE THE DAY WHEN ALL AH DEM CRUMBLE LIKE THE CRACKS OF AN ERTHQUAKES AND BURN IN D HEATS OF THE VOLCANO WAX. THEIR ONLY CONSLATION IS THAT GOD AINT LIKE US HUMANS. GOD IS A LOVING, COMPASSIONATE AND FORGIVING GOD. LUCKY THEM
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED MY FAMILY, WHO FEELS AND UNDERSTAND OUR PAIN AT THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME
Yes “SUNNY” the minors are FREE and THEY ARE BACK IN SCHOOL. Imagine???????????????????
@XXXXXXX
Amen!!! Sunbather feel like anybody stupid man. The boys were seen so he/she’s just an idiot to be making such a statement. Sound dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!